KFC Apologizes for Kicking Toddler Out Over Facial Scars

Sometimes the world just doesn’t make sense. Check that, a lot of the time the world confounds me.

Such is the case with 3-year-old Victoria Wilcher who, as Jezebel reports, was violently attacked by three pit bulls last April. According to the Victoria’s Victories Facebook page, the toddler’s face was nearly destroyed. The dogs damaged an eye socket which resulted in the loss of the eye, the right side of her face is paralyzed, she sustained a broken nose and jaw and has to eat through a feeding tube for the time being.

As if that isn’t traumatic enough for a small child to deal with, some ignorant KFC employee made the decision to tell Victoria’s grandmother that the two needed to leave the restaurant because her scars were bothering people.

Victoria’s grandmother, Kelly Mullin, told WAPT that she took the little girl to get some mashed potatoes at KFC after a doctors appointment. “They just told us, they said, ‘We have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers.'”

Mullin says Victoria knew exactly what was going on. “She won’t even look in the mirror anymore,” Mullins said. “When we go to a store, she doesn’t even want to get out of the car.”

Well, yeah. Anyone who has interacted with a 3-year-old knows they’re perfectly capable of understanding what’s happening around them.

The administrator of Victoria’s Facebook page posted a photo of the adorable little girl with the caption, “Does this face look scary to you? Last week at KFC in Jackson MS this precious face was asked to leave because her face scared the other diners. I personally will never step foot in another KFC again and will be personally writing the CEO.”

The upside to the story, according to People.com, is that after launching an investigation, a KFC spokesperson announced the company is helping to pay Victoria’s medical bills.

“As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC,” spokesman Rick Maynard wrote Sunday in an email to The Associated Press. “Regardless of the outcome of our investigation, we have apologized to Victoria’s family and are committed to assisting them. The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills. The entire KFC family is behind Victoria.”

How anyone — customers or employees at the KFC — would ever find it appropriate to complain about a little girl who has already been through so much is beyond my comprehension. And to actually approach Victoria and her grandma? A stunning display of stupidity and a lack of compassion.

Still, Victoria’s family has been amazed by the response as the little girl’s story has gone viral. Nearly 76,000 people have liked Victoria’s Facebook page. The family posted the following statement:

“We are all amazed with all the support Victoria has received over this last week. The stories that you’ve shared with us have truly touched our hearts. Its amazing how many people all over the world have a similar story to hers.”

$30,000 ain’t enough, in my opinion. Hook that girl up with a scholarship while you’re at it, KFC.

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